The southern California border with Mexico is a serious and complex issue that requires thoughtful consideration if it is to be actually solved.

For at least the 40 years that border has until recently been very loose and relatively unprotected. I attribute the easy flow to the need for cheap labor in California. The status quo has been to allow easy crossing for as long as there were no problems.

I don’t know for a fact that serious problems exist but the current administration does and shut down the border accordingly. It is probable that Central American countries seeing this relatively quick turn around policy are frightened that the hope of asylum is diminishing and they had better act quickly, hence the caravans.

The most pressing border issues for the U.S. seem to be protection against the incursion of criminals and other undesirables while simultaneously administering the orderly admission of desirable emigres and those seeking legitimate asylum.

No quick off-the-cuff remedy will actually solve this problem. We need a comprehensive national policy drafted by both political parties which include reasonable humanitarian considerations consistent with our unique and vital melting pot experiment as well as international cooperation and relative agreement. This is a world problem and must be dealt with accordingly to be solved.

— Chuck Ryder, Temecula

Improve Interstate 5

California is now the fifth largest global economy; state leaders should act like it. Tremendous agricultural and global commerce now flows by endless truck caravans on Interstate 5 in the Central Valley.

The trucks cause hazards with existing traffic as they struggle to merge within 350 feet merge zones (a quaint 1960s design standard). They force existing trucks to do last-second mergers into the left lane that carries faster traffic, thereby creating major safety hazards.

A third lane is needed, but state leaders refuse because they want cars on I-5 to use an unfulfilled high-speed rail system. They are needlessly endangering lives.

At a minimum, they should create half-mile merge zones at all entrances where there are only two traffic lanes, thereby increasing merge times from 5 seconds to 30. This would require adding 28 miles of merge lanes from the grapevine to Highway 120. A small price for safety.

We want to hear from you. If you have thoughts or opinions on what is happening in your local community, California, the nation or the world, let us know. E-mail your letter to letters@pe.com. Please provide your name, city and telephone number (telephone numbers will not be published). Letters of about 200 words will be given preference. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Thank you.